That comment in my summary line by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) was uttered BEFORE the investigation into the comas of Counselor Troi (Marina Sirtis), Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) was completed. Afterward, it became apparent that memory invasion was a criminal act. You almost have to ask why Data (Brent Spiner) didn't assume his Sherlock Holmes persona to solve this one with Commander LaForge (LeVar Burton). Upon looking into the reason for Troi's disturbing recollection of past memories, it was discovered that the Ullian Jev (Ben Lemon) was the assailant invading all their dream memories, just as he had on other planets his family had visited to record an 'archaeology of the mind' for a massive new facility to house the records of multiple civilizations. Had Data and LaForge not confirmed Jev's presence on other planets when similar 'mind rapes' took place, the perpetrator might never have been found out. As I sit here and think about the episode, I have to wonder if Jev's assaults actually did physically occur on board the Enterprise, only to be masked by the induced coma with the attendant nightmare memories. His subsequent more obvious attack against Troi to confirm suspicion that he was the offender cleared his father Tarmin (David Sage) of wrongdoing, who was also under suspicion for the mysterious coma-induced phenomenon. With this episode, Next Generation took a rather bold step with its treatment of rape, and might have been served better with a mature audiences warning.
Review of Violations
